Mods, any chance of getting this stickied along with the Pioneer 8G Kuro Settings thread?

Folks are frequently asking about settings in the Owner's Thread and we could cut down on that a great deal if this thread didn't keep getting lost in the 2nd and 3rd pages, and even with it consistently getting "lost" in the later pages, it's still averaging over 300 views per day.

Hey guys,
Bought a Panny around Christmas and this board offered good advise when i was selecting the TV. I love it and have it broken in now. I've been really busy and haven't been able to check back very often but I have a question.

I bought the calibration service from Best Buy, is this really necessary? I've looked at a lot of the settings in here and am thinking this could be enough data to get a good picture.

How much detail do these guys go in too when calibrating? Do they take into account the room lighting, etc or do they have one setting for the make and model that they blanket everybody with?

I considering telling them I want my money back and don't bother with it. If all they do is mess with the picture settings, I can do that and you guys have provided a ton of info on this.

Hey guys,
Bought a Panny around Christmas and this board offered good advise when i was selecting the TV. I love it and have it broken in now. I've been really busy and haven't been able to check back very often but I have a question.

I bought the calibration service from Best Buy, is this really necessary? I've looked at a lot of the settings in here and am thinking this could be enough data to get a good picture.

How much detail do these guys go in too when calibrating? Do they take into account the room lighting, etc or do they have one setting for the make and model that they blanket everybody with?

I considering telling them I want my money back and don't bother with it. If all they do is mess with the picture settings, I can do that and you guys have provided a ton of info on this.

Just curious if you think I'm wasting my time and money.

If I were you, I'd cancel the Best Buy calibration service and find a local, reputable ISF Calibrator. While some of the Best Buy "guys" may be fine, it's hit or miss as far as I can tell, and there are plenty of horror stories around about them doing a crummy job. A competent, qualified ISF calibrator will run you about $300, but is probably worth it if you want the perfect picture (from a standards perspective). Alternatively, you could play around with the settings posted here and then decide whether to drop the money on calibration.

Thanks for the advice.
I was seriously thinking about cancelling it already and just wanted some feedback on what people thought.

Is there, in your opinion, much difference in the TV after calibration or is there enough setting info to get a comparable picture?

thanks again.

I haven't had mine professionally calibrated (yet). I used the DVE disc to do it myself. ISF calibrators can mess around in the Service Menu and get far more accurate than even the DVE disc, so I'm not sure how to answer that. I'm pretty happy with the DVE results, so I'm probably not going to get it ISF calibrated, but I may sometime down the road to see if it can get that much better. Folks who have had it professionally done by qualified experienced ISF techs have pretty uniformly said it was worth the cost.

Well, I called Best Buy and got the guys name that is scheduled to do the calibration and asked them if he is ISF certified. They told me he is ISF certified and I asked them a second time and they confirmed it a second time.

So I hope it works out. Fingers crossed. I'll be watching him like a hawk though.

Well, I called Best Buy and got the guys name that is scheduled to do the calibration and asked them if he is ISF certified. They told me he is ISF certified and I asked them a second time and they confirmed it a second time. So I hope it works out. Fingers crossed. I'll be watching him like a hawk though.

Couldn't agree more -- hence my references to getting a "qualified" and "experience" ISF calibrator. I'd steer clear of any big box retailer's calibration service, even if they are ISF certified. All you need to do is talk to a typical BB sales rep to get the full picture of the degree of emphasis BB places on having competent, well-informed staff -- about 0.

Good points. I did go to the ISF website and found his name in the ISF directory. So he is certified, but yes you make good points about the experience and equipment.

But how do I know or confirm how much experience another guy has at another place?

What sort of things do you look for when they are calibrating your TV?

If you want to get an ISF Calibration and he's certified then I would try him out...just be sure that he's had some experience on your model...I don't think that an association with Best Buy is a game ender...I've had computer work done by the Geek Squad and it was done quite professionally and went smoothly...I would imagine that a BB calibrator is busier and done more calibrations just by virtue of the volume of people that purchase TVs at BB.

Good Luck...report back...I'm still not completely sold on a professional calibration but I may pony up if I really think the PQ would greatly improve...my 50PZ700U looks pretty friggin' amazing with CNET's and my eyeball calibrations.

If you want to get an ISF Calibration and he's certified then I would try him out...just be sure that he's had some experience on your model...I don't think that an association with Best Buy is a game ender...I've had computer work done by the Geek Squad and it was done quite professionally and went smoothly...I would imagine that a BB calibrator is busier and done more calibrations just by virtue of the volume of people that purchase TVs at BB.

Good Luck...report back...I'm still not completely sold on a professional calibration but I may pony up if I really think the PQ would greatly improve...my 50PZ700U looks pretty friggin' amazing with CNET's and my eyeball calibrations.

There's another good point in there that BMAN brought up, remember that even if you find the most experience, most qualified, most dedicated, ISF Calibrator with the latest and best state-of-the-art equipment -- I mean Mr. John "I am the ISF Calibration Guru" Doe -- you should know ahead of time what you're getting into before you plunk down your $300. Namely, you would be getting a perfectly-calibrated TV set to the ISF standards. The important point here is that the ISF standards are just that -- objective standards -- and regardless of their "accuracy" from an ISF standard perspective, it's entirely possible that you won't be happy with the finished product because what you think looks good may well be different from that standard. Just something to be aware of.

...I have really come to enjoy CNET's Custom Mode Picture Settings for the TH-58PZ700U...most everything (SD/HD/DVDs) looks outstanding and "true" on my TH-50PZ700U...so recently, I tried CNET's recommended Cinema Mode Picture Settings for the TH-42PZ700U...initially, I found them too dim...but these settings definitely give the cleanest, most crystal clear and crisp PQ...I'm not sure if it is the Cinema sub-settings or the reduced brightness but the picture is very very "clean"...last night, I watched a DVD and I found CNET's Cinema Settings to be perfect for this particular DVD...CNET's colors are spot-on natural (although different settings, true for both their Custom & Cinema settings).

So, I am almost there...unfortunately, CNET does not have recommended Standard Picture and Vivid Picture Settings...I have my eyeball Standard Settings that are good but, in the end, not as good as CNET's Custom settings.

Personally, I think that a "professional" calibrator or techie came up with the out-of-the-box CNET settings...realizing that most people won't go into the service menu, they set up the TV as an average consumer would do it (me) with the basic menu options...I really like their settings on my 700U.

Now, my remaining quest is for optimum Vivid and/Standard Picture Settings...ultimately looking for the best settings for viewing sports in both HD and SD.

Does anyone have a SPORTS specific setting for Standard or Vivid Picture?

Wait, BMAN, I'm confused, are you saying that you like the C|Net Settings? HA! Just giving you a hard time. If you want to know more info on how they came up with them, why don't you shoot the reviewer an email and ask? I've had pretty good luck with those guys.

I emailed the reviewer and have yet to here back. It has been 2 weeks. I asked his if his calibrations for the TH-58PZ750U would be the same for my new TH-50PZ750U . Also what he used for his cals.
I have Avical Video System Specialists coming to my house in mid to late March to do there magic. I can not wait! By then m I will have well over 100hours of break in. I will let you all know how it goes!

Wait, BMAN, I'm confused, are you saying that you like the C|Net Settings? HA! Just giving you a hard time. If you want to know more info on how they came up with them, why don't you shoot the reviewer an email and ask? I've had pretty good luck with those guys.

--Mav

Brilliant!!!...it was a very complimentary inquiry...let's see if he repiles to me.

Regardless, as we are all learning, calibration settings beauty is in the eye of the beholder...or the remote control holder, as the case may be.

Good call, Mav...Below is a very prompt and direct response to my question on how CNET derived at their recommended 700U Picture Settings:

"Thanks for the kind words. I actually use professional equipment (detailed here: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6603_7-5109683-3.html) to calibrate the TVs to a particular max light output (40ftl), color temp
(6500K) and color level (determined by color bars, test patterns and demonstration material found on an HD signal generator and Digital Video Essentials). It's something I've been doing for years, so I'm glad it worked for your TV across screen sizes.

I can't really recommend a setting for bright rooms (Vivid mode) since I don't calibrate in that kind of environment. As a rule of thumb, take my custom settings and simply bright up the light output (picture control) to combat the ambient light. That should point you in the right direction.

Hope this helps,

David"

Therefore, given their methodology, it makes sense to me why I am fully diggin' their Custom and Cinema Settings...they know what they are doing...I don't...they've been doing it for years...I haven't...unfortunately, he didn't give me a recommended Vivid Settings for Sports as I had hoped but I appreciate him pointing me in a direction.

Much respect to CNET and their Home Theater Editor, David K., for the quick reply.

Good call, Mav...Below is a very prompt and direct response to my question on how CNET derived at their recommended 700U Picture Settings:

"Thanks for the kind words. I actually use professional equipment (detailed here: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6603_7-5109683-3.html) to calibrate the TVs to a particular max light output (40ftl), color temp
(6500K) and color level (determined by color bars, test patterns and demonstration material found on an HD signal generator and Digital Video Essentials). It's something I've been doing for years, so I'm glad it worked for your TV across screen sizes.

I can't really recommend a setting for bright rooms (Vivid mode) since I don't calibrate in that kind of environment. As a rule of thumb, take my custom settings and simply bright up the light output (picture control) to combat the ambient light. That should point you in the right direction.

Hope this helps,

David"

Therefore, given their methodology, it makes sense to me why I am fully diggin' their Custom and Cinema Settings...they know what they are doing...I don't...they've been doing it for years...I haven't...unfortunately, he didn't give me a recommended Vivid Settings for Sports as I had hoped but I appreciate him pointing me in a direction.

Much respect to CNET and their Home Theater Editor, David K., for the quick reply.

I too hope this helps...

Ha! I hate to admit it, but I'm kinda surprised you got a response so fast. I 1/2 recommended you shoot him an email so you could tell the guy about the man-crush you have on his settings! But seriously, that's a great response from him. I didn't see you post those settings here though. You mind posting them?

Ha! I hate to admit it, but I'm kinda surprised you got a response so fast. I 1/2 recommended you shoot him an email so you could tell the guy about the man-crush you have on his settings! But seriously, that's a great response from him. I didn't see you post those settings here though. You mind posting them?

--Mav

I would've had a crush on you if your calibrated settings were any good!

While I have the 50", these settings seem spot-on to me on my 700U...the color representations are near perfect (particularly noticeable w/ very natural skin tones)...the only changes to the above is my preference for Sharpness at "0" versus "-30"...it gives a little more "pop" and crispness.

Most of my viewing is in Custom because Cinema can seem too dim...but the Cinema settings are the absolute best PQ with certain HD TV programs and DVD's.

While I have the 50", these settings seem spot-on to me on my 700U...the color representations are near perfect (particularly noticeable w/ very natural skin tones)...the only changes to the above is my preference for Sharpness at "0" versus "-30"...it gives a little more "pop" and crispness.

Most of my viewing is in Custom because Cinema can seem too dim...but the Cinema settings are the absolute best PQ with certain HD TV programs and DVD's.

I'm interested in why people chose Custom over Standard. There is a difference.

While I have the 50", these settings seem spot-on to me on my 700U...the color representations are near perfect (particularly noticeable w/ very natural skin tones)...the only changes to the above is my preference for Sharpness at "0" versus "-30"...it gives a little more "pop" and crispness.

Most of my viewing is in Custom because Cinema can seem too dim...but the Cinema settings are the absolute best PQ with certain HD TV programs and DVD's.

Funny, funny man. The reason my settings are where they are is because that's where the DVE disc wanted me to set them to be calibrated properly according to "it", and since it looks awfully good on my 58pz700u, I figured I'd keep it there for my DVD input (my DirecTV input is basically the exact same settings, but the brightness backed down to 13 in accordance with the HDNet Test Pattern). I'm updating my settings right now to reflect this difference.

Anyway, the C|Net settings only vary from mine significantly in only two places -- sharpness and the all-important brightness setting.

I'm convinced "sharpness" doesn't do squat (the test patterns for sharpness tend to bear this out), so I left it at 0; judging by the fact that he turned it all the way off (-30), I'm guessing the C|Net guy determined the same thng.

As for "brightness", since the rest of our settings are pretty much identical, I figured I'd give his brightness setting a whirl and see what happened. No dice, man; too much loss of shadow detail at +9 (on my 58pz700u, anyway), so I went back to what I had. Maybe it's the room lighting? My setup is in a brightly-lit family room; his is in a dark light-controlled theatre room? Who knows.

Anyway, glad you made contact. Did you ask for his autograph? HA! Just having a little fun at your expense.

So folks don't have to follow the links, here are the C|Net settings for a 58PZ700U in a darkened room:

Below you'll find the settings we found best for viewing the Panasonic TH-58PZ700U in a completely dark room via the HDMI input with a 1080i source. Your settings may very depending on source, room conditions, and personal preference.

Below you'll find settings that we found best suited for viewing the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U in a completely dark room, via the HDMI input with a 1080i source. Your settings may very depending on source, room conditions, and personal preference.

Below you'll find the settings we found best for viewing the Panasonic TH-58PZ750U in a completely dark room via the HDMI input with a 1080i, film-based source. Your settings may very depending on source, room conditions, and personal preference.